Search

Background: wild Coleus forskohlii L. is a well-known traditional medicine for the treatment of many diseases because of its high forskolin content and several diterpenes. Objective: this study aimed phytochemical screening, finding of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidation activity of Coleus forskohlii L. leavse extracts in Al-Leith area, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: dry leaves of wild C. forskohlii L. were used. Four solvents from diverse polarity groups were tested on these leaves, which are ethanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and hexane. Moreover, obtained extracts were used in phytochemical analyzing, finding of total phenols, and antioxidation activity. Results: showed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, Proteins, carbohydrates, saponins, and glycosides in Coleus forskohlii L. leaves. The highest value of total phenolic content (TPC) was significantly (P < 0.001) in ethanol extract (280.5±2.33 mg GAE/gm. Also, the highest value of total flavonoid content (TFC) was in ethanol extract (141.4±1.30 mg QE /g). The antioxidation activity was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in ethanol extract (78.55±2.23%), followed by ethyl acetate extract (60.18±1.21%), chloroform extract (36.11±2.54%), and lowest value in hexane extract (20.71±0.59%). The study clearly indicated that the leaves extract of C. forskohlli L. collected from Al-Leith region- Saudi Arabia has properties to be useful in pharmacological and biological industries.

The study was aimed to characterize the antioxidant and anti-microbial activities of Cynodon dactylon with special reference on its precise biochemical analysis. Physiological analysis that total carotenoids content (0.3884 ± 0.0172 mg/g), total chlorophyll content (6.1460 ± 0.2915 mg/g), total phenolic contents (13.4703 ± 0.1494 mg/g), chlorophyll a (3.7708 ± 0.1528 mg/g, catalase (CAT) contents (40.2844 ± 0.1515 units/mg), total anthocyanin contents (5.0166 ± 0.2966 g–1 FW) total soluble proteins (2.9916 ± 0.1734 mg/g) and total flavonoids content (TFC) (4.7863 ± 0.0442 μg/g) was found higher in the leaves of the Cynodon dactylon whereas, chlorophyll b (2.4881 ± 0.1326 mg/g) was found higher in the stem of Cynodon dactylon, while, peroxidase (POD) contents (81.8763 ± 4.6609 units/mg) and superoxidase dismutase (SOD) activity (80.4346 ± 5.9367 units/mg) was investigated higher in roots of Cynodon dactylon. The anti-microbial activity of Cynodon dactylon extracts was performed using a good diffusion technique against two microbial strains. Among all the plant extracts, the methanolic extracts showed a maximum inhibition zone (26.87 mm) against anti-bacterial strain Escherichia coli whereas n-hexane extract showed a maximum inhibition zone (17.88 mm) against anti-fungal strain Candida albicans. This study reported the antimicrobial activity of Cynodon dactylon against some common pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans, which are highly associated with nosocomial infection. From the given results it is concluded that Cynodon dactylon could be exploited in pharmacology due to its antioxidant and anti-microbial properties.

Sufficient intake of probiotics has been shown to help in the digestion, protect the body against pathogenic microorganisms and boost the immune system. Recently, due to high prevalence of milk allergies and lactose intolerance in population, the non-dairy based probiotic alternative are becoming increasing popular. In this context, the oat milk and soya milk-based fermented products can be an ideal alternative for the development of Lactic acid bacteria bacteria based probiotics. These bacteria can not only improve the product's flavor and bioavailability but also increases its antibacterial and antioxidant capabilities due to fermentation process. The purpose of the resent work was to assess the antioxidant and probiotic properties of oat and soy milk that had been fermented with three different strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) including L. plantarum 12-3, L. plantarum K25, and L. plantarum YW11 isolated from Tibetan Kefir. Different validated assays were used to evaluate the probiotic properties, adhesion and survival in the digestive system (stomach, acid and bile salts resistance), antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and safety (ABTS and DPPH scavenging assays) of these strains. Results of the study showed that soya milk and oat milk fermented with L. plantarum strains possess promising probiotic, antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These results can be helpful to produce dairy-free probiotic replacements, which are beneficial for those who are unable to consume dairy products due to dietary or allergic restrictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the development of visible-light-responsive catalysts for the photodegradation of organic pollutants has captured the attention of researchers globally. The ineffectiveness and high costs associated with conventional methods and techniques used for the abatement of water pollution have forced researchers to develop effective and low-cost innovative techniques for this purpose. Photocatalysis is considered an effective protocol for this purpose. Therefore, this study was conducted for the development of the Bi2O3-NiO heterojunction as a visible-light-responsive photocatalyst for the degradation of methyl orange. Ni(NO3)2∙6H2O (Fluka) and Bi(NO3)3∙5H2O (Merck) were used as precursor materials for the synthesis of NiO-Bi2O3. After fabrication, the Bi2O3-NiO heterojunction was characterized using XRD, EDX, SEM, FTIR, and TGA techniques. Then, it was employed as a catalyst for the photodegradation of methyl orange under sunlight irradiation. The fabricated Bi2O3-NiO showed higher photocatalytic activity than Bi2O3 and NiO with 100, 67, and 46% degradation of methyl orange, respectively. The rate constant determined by the non-linear method of analysis for the photodegradation of MO in the presence of Bi2O3-NiO was 3.2-fold and 1.7-fold of the rate constant with NiO and Bi2O3, respectively. The higher photocatalytic activity of Bi2O3-NiO than of its individual components in the present study is also attributed to the separation and transfer of positive holes and electrons. The recycling of spent Bi2O3-NiO under similar experimental conditions exhibited the same photocatalytic activity suggesting the stability of the fabricated Bi2O3-NiO photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baijiu, a type of liquor, is known for its pure fragrance and softness. Its unique style is attributed to the complex microbial flora and flavor precursors found in Daqu. In order to elaborate the nature of light flavor Daqu to guide the baijiu production, four Daqu samples (DQ1, DQ2, DQ3, and DQ4) from Shanxi province were analyzed to determine their microbial structure, physicochemical properties, and volatile flavors using high‐throughout put seqencing and headspace solid‐phase microextraction/gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method in this study. The findings indicated that there were no noticeable variations in the water content and esterase activity of the four Daqu. However, the DQ2 sample had a higher acidity value and saccharifying enzyme activity, whereas DQ3 had the highest protease activity. The microbial community structure of the four Daqu was similar, with Lactobacillus and Streptophyta as the dominant bacteria, but the abundance of bacteria was different among the four Daqu. Issachenkia was a common dominant fungus genus in all samples. Rhizopus and Lichtemia were higher in DQ1 and DQ2, while Torulaspora, Aspergillus, and Candida were more prevalent in DQ4. A total of 27 volatile components were detected in the four Daqu, including esters, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, and acids. DQ2 had the most volatile components and ethyl lactate and ethyl acetate were the most significant esters in the four samples. In conclusion, the physicochemical indicators of the four light flavor Daqu had distinct differences. There were significant variations in the abundance of bacteria and fungi, leading to differences in the volatile component content. These research findings can serve as a theoretical foundation for blending different light flavors Daqu and hold great significance in enhancing the quality of baijiu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Microbial inoculants can reinvent the value and edible security of cultured sausages. Various studies have demonstrated that starter cultures made up of Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and Staphylococcus xylosus (known as L-S) isolated from traditional fermented foods were used in fermented sausage manufacturing. Methods: This study evaluated the impact of the mixed inoculation cultures on limiting biogenic amines, nitrite depletion, N-nitrosamine reduction, and quality metrics. Inoculation of sausages with the commercial starter culture (SBM-52) was evaluated for comparison. Results and discussion: Results showed that the L-S strains could rapidly decrease the water activity (Aw) and pH of fermented sausages. The ability of the L-S strains to delay lipid oxidation was equivalent to the SBM-52 strains. The non-protein nitrogen (NPN) contents of L-S-inoculated sausages (0.31%) were higher than that of SBM-52-inoculated sausages (0.28%). After the ripening process, the nitrite residues in the L-S sausages were 1.47 mg/kg lower than in the SBM-52 sausages. Compared to the SBM-52 sausages, there was a 4.88 mg/kg reduction in the biogenic amines' concentrations in L-S sausage, especially for histamine and phenylethylamine concentrations. The N-nitrosamine accumulations of the L-S sausages (3.40 ug/kg) were lower than that of the SBM-52 sausages (3.70 ug/ kg), and the NDPhA accumulations of the L-S sausages were 0.64 ug/kg lower than that of the SBM-52 sausages. Due to their significant contributions to nitrite depletion, biogenic amine reduction, and N-nitrosamine depletion in fermented sausages, the L-S strains have the potential to serve as an initial inoculant in the process of manufacturing fermented sausages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All nutrient-rich feed and food environments, as well as animal and human mucosae, include lactic acid bacteria known as Lactobacillus plantarum. This study reveals an advanced analysis to study the interaction of probiotics with the gastrointestinal environment, irritable bowel disease, and immune responses along with the analysis of the secondary metabolites' characteristics of Lp YW11. Whole genome sequencing of Lp YW11 revealed 2297 genes and 1078 functional categories of which 223 relate to carbohydrate metabolism, 21 against stress response, and the remaining 834 are involved in different cellular and metabolic pathways. Moreover, it was found that Lp YW11 consists of carbohydrate-active enzymes, which mainly contribute to 37 glycoside hydrolase and 28 glycosyltransferase enzyme coding genes. The probiotics obtained from the BACTIBASE database (streptin and Ruminococcin-A bacteriocins) were docked with virulent proteins (cdt, spvB, stxB, and ymt) of Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, and Yersinia, respectively. These bacteria are the main pathogenic gut microbes that play a key role in causing various gastrointestinal diseases. The molecular docking, dynamics, and immune simulation analysis in this study predicted streptin and Ruminococcin-A as potent nutritive bacteriocins against gut symbiotic pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their distinctive physicochemical characteristics, nanoparticles have recently emerged as pioneering materials in agricultural research. In this work, nanopowders (NP) of seaweed (Turbinaria triquetra) were prepared using the planetary ball milling procedure. The prepared nanopowders from marine seaweed were characterized by particle size, zeta potential, UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). When the seaweed nanopowder of Turbinaria triquetra was subjected to FT-IR analysis, it revealed the presence of different functional groups, including alkane, carboxylic acids, alcohol, alkenes and aromatics. Moreover, the methanol extract was used to identify the polyphenolic components in seaweed (NP) using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the extract revealed the presence of a number of important compounds such as daidzein and quercetin. Moreover, the pot experiment was carried out in order to evaluate the effects of prepared seaweed (NP) as an enhancer for the growth of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.). The date palm seedlings received four NP doses, bi-distilled water was applied as the control and doses of 25, 50 or 100 mg L−1 of seaweed liquid NP were used (referred to as T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively). Foliar application of liquid NP was applied two times per week within a period of 30 days. Leaf area, number of branches, dry weight, chlorophylls, total soluble sugars and some other secondary metabolites were determined. Our results indicated that the foliar application of liquid NP at T3 enhanced the growth parameters of the date palm seedlings. Additionally, liquid NP at T3 and T4 significantly increased the photosynthetic pigments. The total phenolic, flavonoid and antioxidant activities were stimulated by NP foliar application. Moreover, the data showed that the T3 and T4 doses enhanced the activity of the antioxidant enzymes (CAT, POX or PPO) compared to other treatments. Therefore, the preparation of seaweed NP using the planetary ball milling method could produce an eco-friendly and cost- effective material for sustainable agriculture and could be an interesting way to create a nanofertilizer that mitigates plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) has a significant role in our daily life due to its diverse nutritional composition and potential health benefits. This study was designed to evaluate the phytochemicals, antioxidant, and antidiarrheal potential of various extracts of Ajwa whole fruit, date palm pit, and flesh. The extracts with the highest phytochemical quantities were further subjected to bio-assay assessment against castor oil-induced diarrhea using different animal models. The results indicated that Ajwa whole fruit extract (AWFE) exhibited higher amount of total phenolic contents (TPC: 36 ± 16 mg/g GAE), total flavonoid contents (TFC: 360 ± 135 mg/g RE), and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH: 60 ± 7%) in hydro-ethanolic extracts. In vivo results revealed that Ajwa whole fruit 60% hydro-ethanolic extract at high dose (2000 mg/kg) showed significantly (p <.05) highest protective effect against diarrheal changes in mice. In case of AWFE, the intestinal contents % inhibition was slightly higher (72%) as compared to that of loperamide control (70%). High dose of Ajwa whole (2000 mg/kg) demonstrated less effectiveness (66 ± 11%) in comparison with loperamide (78 ± 8%) regarding % inhibition of fluid accumulation in enteropooling studies. High dose (2000 mg/kg) of Ajwa also reduced intestinal transit time by decreasing the % distance (53 ± 1%) in comparison with loperamide (57 ± 1%). The % inhibition of charcoal meal traveling of AWFE (38 ± 2%) was also significantly higher as compared to loperamide (26 ± 1%). The findings of the current study reveal that AWFE might be consumed as an ingredient in daily food products to counter effect the symptoms of diarrhea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present research is the evaluation of the extraction process effect on the chemical composition, the antioxidant activities, and the mild steel corrosion inhibition ability of Argania spinosa's extracts (alimentary oil (AO) and hexanic extract of roasted almonds (HERA)). The chemical composition revealed that both extracts have the same major compounds: Palmitic, linoleic, and stearic acids, with their order slightly different. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), weight loss measurements, and polarization curves were used to estimate AO and HERA's mild steel corrosion's inhibition capacity. Based on these three methods, AO registered, respectively, 81%, 87%, and 87% inhibition efficiency while HERA registered 78%, 84%, and 82% inhibition efficiency. The antioxidant activity of AO and HERA was examined in parallel with standard antioxidants (gallic acid and quercetin) using two assays: DPPH* scavenging assay and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP). AO had less EC50 in both techniques (DPPH*: 3559.08 ± 161.75 μg/mL; FRAP 1288.58 ± 169.21 μg/mL) than HERA (DPPH*: 3621.43 ± 316.05 μg/mL; FRAP 1655.86 ± 240.18 μg/mL). Quantum chemical and molecular dynamic studies were employed to suggest the adsorption mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The foremost wastage of bakery products which mainly disturbs the food supply chain, especially in remote areas, is fungal growth. Good quality bread, especially with good height and volume, is the demand of every customer. Here, we aimed to develop a unique antimicrobial approach for the enhancement of the quality aspects and longevity of bread, using the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide in bread, the glucose oxidase (GOx) bioactivity, and oxidation of thiol protein bonds, which greatly enhance dough rheology, volume, and height by providing structural stability to the bread. An Aspergillus niger-purified enzyme was immobilized on zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) and afterwards immersed in a buffered solution to create a mixture of GOx/ZnONPs. Analyses conducted after localization revealed that the immobilized enzyme was more active than the mobilized enzyme. GOx/ZnONPs were employed in the mixing process of bread production. The treated and control groups were evaluated for dough rheology and quality metrics including bread height and volume and storage at ambient temperature and conditions to determine shelf life by demonstrating fungal growth. In addition, antimicrobial activity was evaluated by measuring the microbiological load in terms of colony-forming units. Contrary to the control, the use of GOx/ZnONPs significantly improved bread quality, particularly bread height by 34.4%, crumb color, and volume by 30%. The shelf life of bread treated with GOx/ZnONPs was greatly extended, and the microbiological load, including yeast and mold, and total bacterial count were much lower in the GOx/ZnONPs treatment group than in the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese fermented sausage is a famous fermented meat product with a complex microbiota that has a potential impact on flavor and quality. In this study, Lactobacillus plantarum MSZ2 and Staphylococcus xylosus YCC3 were used as starter cultures to investigate the change in bacterial diversity, metabolic pathways, and flavor compounds during the ripening process of fermented sausages. High-throughput sequencing technology and headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HSSPME-GC/MS) were applied for characterizing the profiles of bacterial diversity, metabolic pathways, and flavor compounds in sausage samples on days 0, 6, and 12 during ripening. Results showed that Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus, Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, and Weissella were the most abundant bacterial genera found in the sausage samples during all stages of fermentation. Functional prediction reveals the abundance of 12 different metabolic pathways, the most important pathways are carbohydrate metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. A total of 63 volatile compounds were successfully identified in fermented sausage samples. Correlational analysis demonstrated that Staphylococcus and Leuconostoc were closely related to the formation of flavor compounds. Therefore, the present study may provide guidance for future use of microbiota to improve flavor, quality, and preservation of fermented sausages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The important role of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains in improving the human mucosal and systemic immunity, preventing non-steroidal anti-provocative drug-induced reduction in T-regulatory cells, and as probiotic starter cultures in food processing has motivated in-depth molecular and genomic research of these strains. The current study, building on this research concept, reveals the importance of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 13-3 as a potential probiotic and bacteriocin-producing strain that helps in improving the condition of the human digestive system and thus enhances the immunity of the living beings via various extracellular proteins and exopolysaccharides. We have assessed the stability and quality of the L. plantarum 13-3 genome through de novo assembly and annotation through FAST-QC and RAST, respectively. The probiotic-producing components, secondary metabolites, phage prediction sites, pathogenicity and carbohydrate-producing enzymes in the genome of L. plantarum 13-3 have also been analyzed computationally. This study reveals that L. plantarum 13-3 is nonpathogenic with 218 subsystems and 32,918 qualities and five classes of sugars with several important functions. Two phage hit sites have been identified in the strain. Cyclic lactone autoinducer, terpenes, T3PKS, and RiPP-like gene clusters have also been identified in the strain evidencing its role in food processing. Combined, the non-pathogenicity and the food-processing ability of this strain have rendered this strain industrially important. The subsystem and qualities characterization provides a starting point to investigate the strain's healthcare-related applications as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bionanotechnology is the combination of biotechnology and nanotechnology for the development of biosynthetic and environmentally friendly nanomaterial synthesis technology. The presented research work adopted a reliable and environmentally sustainable approach to manufacturing silver nanoparticles from Brachychiton populneus (BP-AgNPs) leaf extract in aqueous medium. The Brachychiton populneus-derived silver nanoparticles were characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). In addition, the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and cytotoxic activities of AgNPs were brought to light. The synthesis of BP-AgNPs was verified at 453 nm wavelength by UV–Vis spectrum. FTIR analysis revealed that synthesis, stability, and capping of AgNPs depend on functional groups such as alkane, alkene, nitro, flouro, phenol, alcoholic, and flavones, present in plant extract. The SEM analysis revealed evenly distributed cubical-shaped nanoparticles. The average diameter of AgNPs was 12 nm calculated from SEM image through ImageJ software. EDX spectrum confirmed the presence of Ag at 3 keV and other trace elements such as oxygen and chlorine. The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles exhibited proven antioxidant (DPPH assay), antidiabetic (alpha amylase assay), anti-inflammatory (albumin denaturation assay), and cytotoxic (MTT assay) potential against U87 and HEK293 cell lines in comparison to standard drugs. In these assays, BP-AgNPs exhibited inhibition in a concentration-dependent manner and had lower IC50 values compared to standards. All these outcomes suggest that silver nanoparticles work as a beneficial biological agent. The salient features of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles propose their effective applications in the biomedical domain in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to synthesize a new antihyperglycemic thiazolidinedione based on the spectral data. The DFT\B3LYP\6-311G** level of theory was used to investigate the frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), chemical reactivity and map the molecular electrostatic potentials (MEPs) to explain how the synthesized compounds interacted with the receptor. The molecular docking simulations into the active sites of PPAR-γ and α-amylase were performed. The in vitro potency of these compounds via α-amylase and radical scavenging were evaluated. The data revealed that compounds (4–6) have higher potency than the reference drugs. The anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic activities for thiazolidine-2,4-dione have been investigated in vivo using the alloxan-induced diabetic rat model along with the 30 days of treatment protocol. The investigated compounds didn't show obvious reduction of blood glucose during pre-treatments compared to diabetic control, while after 30 days of treatments, the blood glucose level was lower than that of the diabetic control. Compounds (4–7) were able to regulate hyperlipidemia levels (cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoproteins and low- and very-low-density lipoproteins) to nearly normal value at the 30th day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to synthesize safe antihyperglycemic derivatives bearing thiazolidinedione fragment based on spectral data. The DFT theory discussed the frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), chemical reactivity of compounds, and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) to explain interaction between thiazolidinediones and the biological receptor. α-amylase is known as the initiator-hydrolysis of the of polysaccharides; therefore, developing α-amylase inhibitors can open the way for a potential diabetes mellitus drug. The molecular docking simulation was performed into the active site of PPAR-γ and α-amylase. We evaluated in vitro α-amylase's potency and radical scavenging ability. The compound 6 has the highest potency against α-amylase and radical scavenging compared to the reference drug and other members. They have been applied against anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic activity (in vivo) based on an alloxan-induced diabetic rat model during a 30-day treatment protocol. The most potent anti hyperglycemic members are 6 and 11 with reduction percentage of blood glucose level by 69.55% and 66.95%, respectively; compared with the normal control. Other members exhibited moderate to low anti-diabetic potency. All compounds showed a normal value against the tested biochemical parameters (CH, LDL, and HDL). The ADMET profile showed good oral bioavailability without any observed carcinogenesis effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancient wheat and landraces (traditional varieties) are fascinating to the consideration of scientists who are re-evaluating the healthy and dietary properties attributed to them by popular tradition. Wheat (Triticum durum) is one of the most significant crops that is grown all over the world. In the present study, 19 landraces were analyzed for genetic diversity through morphological and SDS-PAGE analysis. The highest coefficient of variance (18.91%) was found for spike length, and the lowest for days to maturity (1.51%). The genotype Malakand and Dolram produced a maximum number of seeds (42 and 46 seeds per plant), and the genotypes Dogai and Rasool Banda were found to be the tallest (73 and 71 cm, respectively). The genotype Kamar Kotki was found to mature early (165 days) while Doagi was found to mature late (171 days). Spike length was found to be positively correlated with plant height, leaf width, and leaf length. Leaf width was significant with spike length and the internode distance. The cluster analysis divided all the genotypes into six sub-clusters where the Asban and the Shekhan were placed at the extreme of the dendrogram. Based on the total seed storage proteins analysis, 18 (85.71%) bands were polymorphic while 14.28% bands were found to be monomorphic. Using Ward’s methods, all the genotypes were divided into two main lineages at 25% Euclidian distance and five sub-clusters at 75% distance. Our findings have significance for understanding the variations and relationships between various durum wheat genotypes and could serve as a basis for local elite durum germplasm that has been regionally adapted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the effects of recycled oxidized coconut oil were assessed on hematobiochemical, antioxidant and cardiac markers in albino mice. In all, 24 mice were divided into three groups: group I, II, and III; animals in each group received a normal diet as well as fresh and deep-oxidized coconut oil. The outcomes demonstrated that group III mice fed with thermally oxidized coconut oil revealed a significant alteration in the form of decreased levels of alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, total white blood corpuscle, platelet count, hemoglobin (Hb), Hb concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and hematocrit (HCT) (p > 0.05). Likewise, levels of triglyceride, cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein in group III were high, while level of high-density lipoprotein was weakened. Moreover, it was observed that administration of oxidized coconut oil (group III) caused significant changes in the levels of creatinine, uric acid, serum urea, total proteins, globulin, albumin, blood urea nitrogen, and serum glucose as well as concentrations of serum electrolytes, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. This study also showed that group III mice had low levels of glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and radical scavenging capacity and high levels of thiobarbituric reactive substances. However, animals in group II, fed with diet of fresh coconut oil, showed normal levels of all the above-mentioned hematobiochemical, antioxidant, and lipid markers, compared to control mice (group I) and group-III animals. The histological findings of the liver and heart further confirmed the findings of the current investigation, that is, deep-oxidized coconut oil has negative consequences and ought to be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the potential of Punica granatum L peel in mice as an antidiarrheal and antidiabetic agent. In an antidiarrheal study, different doses (50, 100, 150, and 200 mg/kg) of methanolic pomegranate peel extract (PPE) were administrated to castor oil-induced (1 mL/kg) diarrheal mice. Mice administered loperamide hydrochloride (3 mg/kg) were treated as a baseline group. During the experiment, electrolyte and hematological levels were analyzed, and at the end, histopathology of the intestine was performed. For antidiabetic activity, PPE doses (50, 100, 150, and 200 mg/kg) and metformin hydrochloride were administered to alloxan-induced (150 mg/kg) diabetic mice groups, and biochemical and hematological parameters were analyzed. Liver histopathology was done at the end of the experiment. The study found that castor oil caused diarrhea and had a significant (p < 0.05) impact on hematological parameters and electrolyte levels, compared with negative control group. PPE helped to restore altered parameters to normal levels. Histopathology of positive control group revealed abnormal cell structures, with irregularly arranged villi, unclear mucosal architecture of the ileal section, and nuclei cells were damaged and prone to collapsing. Significant dose-dependent recovery was observed in PPE-fed mice groups. After inducing and confirmation of diabetes with alloxan, all groups, except the negative control group, had significantly high glucose levels (p < 0.05). Levels of C-reactive protein and bilirubin were significantly altered, but PPE and metformin hydrochloride showed potential to improve these parameters. In positive control group mice, liver histology showed microvesicular fatty changes throughout the acinus, reactive Kupffer cells, mid-portal inflammation, reduced portal triad, centrilobular visibility, and well-differentiated central vein with well-formed nuclei. Similarly, significant dose-dependent recovery was observed in PPE-administrated mice groups. These results demonstrated that PPE had promising antidiarrheal and antidiabetic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]